The Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM | Art lens was one of the hottest lenses at the recent PhotoPlus Expo in New York. This was the first time in North America that the Sigma team, the technical press, and Sigma fans from around were able to get their hands on samples of this just-announced full-frame constant aperture wide-to-tele zoom lens. The newest in the Art line of Global Vision lenses, this lens is going to be an incredibly dependable workhorse lens for tons of location and event photographers.
As an art lens, the initial feel and impression in the hands is very similar to the 35mm F1.4 and the 18-35mm F1.8. The build is rock-solid, AF/MF switches are easy enough to flip positions with a flick of the thumb, and it has a pleasing heft to it, thanks in part to that big 82mm front element and the internal lens elements designed for excellent performance all the way from wide to short tele. The barrel does extend as the focal length increases, but it does not rotate. In other words, this lens features internal focus, but not internal zooming and covers an angle of view range of 84.1º-23.3º on a full-frame DSLR.
Close-focusing distance is about eighteen inches at 1:4.6 magnification. Remember, focusing distance is measured from the capture plane, not the front element, so that’s just around a foot from the front of the lens, depending on where in the zoom range you are, great for hero placement of a subject in the frame, without necessarily being into the true macro magnification. And like the other DG and DC Art lenses, the 24-105mm F4 includes nine rounded aperture blades for pleasing bokeh and off-focal plane rendering. The Hypersonic motor is swift with nearly silent operation while engaged, as is the Optical Stabilizer operation.
As the samples we had at the show were pre-production models, we do not have any personal image quality shots to show yet; however, you may download two full-resolution samples from the Sigma Global Vision website.
Of course, as a Global Vision lens, the 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM | A is compatible with the USB Dock and Sigma Optimization Pro, and is eligible for Sigma’s exclusive Mount Conversion Service, which allows photographers to keep their lens, and trade out the mount, should they choose to switch brands. In other words, you can choose to change your camera brand, but keep all your favorite Sigma Global Vision lenses.
All through the show, one photographer after another approached the lens counter, and asked if we, by any chance, happened to have the brand-new 24-105mm F4 lens for them to look at. And, by my casual observation, several of these photographers just so happened to have a direct competitor to it, which I found very interesting. Overall, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive in terms of the handfeel and through-the-lens viewing experience, and in particular, about the $899 street price.
Many photographers want a one-lens solution, and everything the 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM | A offers in terms of reach, range and Optical Stabilizer at a wallet-friendly price is going to make a lot of full-frame and APS-C photographers very happy.
And as a bonus, here I am talking about the new 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM | A lens with Newsshooter.com. There’s a whole lot to like about this new lens!
